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Silverton Tramway Co. Y 5 Tank version of the Y-class |
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This historical view of BHP
No.3 (the former Silverton Tramway Y 5) shows the loco towards the end of its
working life, circa 1960.
It is paired with the
tender from No 2A.
This photo was contributed by David Griffiths and originated
from BHP Whyalla records.
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While the
majority of the Silverton Tramway Company's Y-class locomotives were of the
usual 2-6-0 tender variety, Y 5 & Y 6 featured an unusual 2-6-2T configuration. Y 5 was built by Beyer Peacock &
Co in 1890 (builder's number 3170) and has an interesting history, being
transferred in 1901 to the Sulphide Corporation Central Mine as a replacement
for a locomotive destroyed in a collision. (The Silverton Tramway Co. then purchased
another 2-6-0 configuration Y-class loco to replace the 2-6-2T, which became
their second Y 5.) In December
1941 it was sold to the BHP Whyalla steelworks for use in conjunction with
the new Blast Furnace, becoming No.3 on the BHP Whyalla roster. Together with sister Y-class tank engines No.2 (Beyer Peacock 3357 of 1891) and No.2A
(Beyer Peacock 5125 of 1908) it regularly shunted around the steelworks and
associated wharves. Following
withdrawal from steelworks duties, No.3 was plinthed at Whyalla in children's
playground adjacent to Viscount Slim hall. Inevitably its steel platework became badly
corroded, but in 1983 it was obtained by the Pichi Richi Railway Preservation
Society for eventual restoration. No.3 was transferred to
Quorn and placed in the Pichi Richi Railway's long-term storage shed, where
it has been protected from the elements. As an
interesting aside, virtually identical locomotives were supplied by Beyer
Peacock & Co. to the metre-gauge Alcoy - Gandia railway in Valencia,
Spain. Details of two preserved
Spanish locomotives (Beyer Peacock & Co. b/n 3277 of 1890 and b/n 3282 of
1891) can be found on the Preserved Steam Locomotives of Spain website (Valencia
page) and are reproduced below. |
Silverton Tramway Y 5 /
BHP Whyalla No.3 within the Pichi Richi Railway’s long-term storage shed on 10
May 2014.
(My thanks to David Jehan for allowing use of this
photograph.)
A second historical view
of BHP No.3 at Whyalla, this time paired with the tender from No 2.
This photo was also contributed by David Griffiths and originated from
BHP Whyalla records.
This historical view of
a Silverton Tramway Y-class 2-6-0 tender + tank loco is displayed at the
Sulphide St Railway Museum, Broken Hill.
The side tanks were
presumably intended to add adhesion and hence tractive effort, as well as extra
water capacity.
The water tanks were later removed and lead weights added in
their place.
A second view a Silverton Tramway Y-class tender + tank loco, taken at the Sulphide St Railway Museum, Broken Hill.
Spanish cousin: Beyer Peacock 3282 of 1891 displayed at Gandia, Spain.
This locomotive was No.7 "COCENTAINA" of the metre-gauge Alcoy-Gandia Railway.
Photo by Isidro Ferrando Bataller and used with permission from the Preserved Steam Locomotives of Spain website.
Alcoy-Gandia Railway No.2 "VILLALONGA" (Beyer Peacock 3277 of 1890) displayed at Alcoy, Spain.
Photo by Fernando Leria and used with permission from the Preserved Steam Locomotives of Spain website.
References
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a |
Fluck R. E., Sampson R., & Bird K. J.
'Steam locomotives and Railcars of the South Australian Railways', published by The Mile End Railway Museum (SA) Inc, 1986. |
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b |
Finlay, K. 'Preserving the Past - A guide to the Pichi Richi Railway', Pichi Richi Preservation Society, 1998. |
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c |
Information
provided by David Griffiths via email dated 23 February 2015. |
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c |
Webmaster's
observation or comment. |
Page updated: 4 March 2015
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